Room monitor for critical environment rooms

ABSTRACT

A room monitor having a second display includes a controller, a first display and a second display. The first display is preferably a touch screen monitor, which allows the entry of data into the controller without the need for a keyboard. However, the controller may be programmed through a keyboard. The controller includes a plurality of inputs and outputs for monitoring and/or controlling such room environmental factors as pressure, temperature, humidity and lighting. The inputs are used to read sensors. The outputs are used to actuate control devices. The first display includes a plurality of menus for controlling at least one environmental factor. The second display shows information the condition of a critical environment room. There is at least one message displayed on the second display. A second embodiment of the room monitor includes a controller and the first display. The first display must be a touch screen monitor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a utility patent application taking priority from provisionalapplication No. 60/690,029 filed on Jun. 13, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to monitoring of criticalenvironment rooms and more specifically to a room monitor for criticalenvironment rooms having a second display for disclosing the conditionin a room.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses monitoring of room environmental factors, suchas humidity, pressure, temperature and lighting in a room. Themonitoring is done with a controller and a display. The controller hasmultiple inputs for the connection of sensors and multiple outputs forthe connection to control devices. The controller will also providealarms, when the room environmental factors exceed the limits of arange. The information from the inputs and outputs may be displayed on ascreen. Information for configuring sensors and control devices andsetting limits is entered through a keyboard, which is connected to thecontroller. The prior art does not disclose the use of a second display,which displays who may enter a critical environment room or if it issafe to enter the critical environment room. Further, it appears theprior art does not disclose the use of touch screen monitors for theentry of limits concerning room environmental factors of a criticalenvironment room.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a room monitorfor critical environment rooms, which provides a second display fordisclosing the condition of a critical environment room and utilizes atouch screen display for the entry of data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a room monitor for critical environmentrooms, which preferably includes a touch screen monitor for enteringdata into a controller. The room monitor for critical environment rooms(room monitor) preferably includes a controller, a first display and asecond display. For the purpose of this patent application, thedefinition of a room includes an enclosure or defined space. The firstdisplay is preferably a touch screen monitor, which allows the entry ofdata into the controller without the need for a keyboard or keypad.However, the controller may be programmed through a keyboard or keypad.The controller includes a plurality of inputs and outputs for monitoringand/or controlling such room environmental factors as pressure,temperature, humidity, lighting, filtering, air quality, air compositionor the like. The inputs are used to read various sensors. The outputsare used to actuate control devices for changing various functions inHVAC (heating ventilation air conditioning) system or the like. Thecontroller includes a software program to keep pressure, temperature,humidity and lighting within preprogrammed limits through the inputs andoutputs. If the limits are exceeded an alarm will be activated.

The first display is used to show the current mode of a room, such aspositive isolation, negative isolation or no isolation. The firstdisplay also includes access through the software program to a pluralityof menus, which allow temperature, humidity, pressure and lightingsettings to be made in the controller. The second display showsinformation provided by the controller concerning the condition of acritical environment room, such as an isolation room, surgical suite,neonatal suite, laboratory, clean room, vivarium room or the like. Thereis at least one message displayed on the second display. The at leastone message pertains to the condition of the critical environment room.For example, the at least one message could be, “DO NOT ENTER INFECTIOUSROOM.” A second embodiment of the room monitor includes a controller anda touch screen monitor. The touch screen monitor allows the entry ofdata into the controller without the need for a keyboard or keypad. Asecond display may be utilized. The touch screen monitor is less obviousfor unauthorized personnel to meddle with or to sabotage the roommonitor than a keyboard. Unauthorized personnel must know that thesystem may be modified through the touch screen. A keyboard or keypad isan open invitation for someone to meddle with or sabotage the roommonitor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roommonitor for critical environment rooms, which includes a second displayfor disclosing the condition of a critical environment room.

Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a roommonitor, which includes a touch screen monitor for entering data into acontroller without the need for a keyboard or keypad.

These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a room monitor in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first display adjacent a second display of aroom monitor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a password entry screen of a room monitor inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an engineering menu of a room monitor inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main menu of a room monitor in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an change isolation mode screen of a roommonitor in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a room monitor 1. The room monitor 1 includes a controller 10, afirst display 12 and a second display 14. The controller 10 ispreferably any suitable microprocessor or microcontroller basedcontroller. The first display 12 is preferably a touch screen monitor,which allows the entry of data into the controller 10 or programming ofthe controller 10 without the need for a keyboard or keypad. However,data may be entered into the controller 10 or the controller 10programmed through a keyboard or keypad.

The controller 10 includes at least one input and at least one outputfor monitoring and/or controlling such room environmental factors aspressure, temperature, humidity, lighting, filtering, air quality, aircomposition or the like. The at least one input is used to read at leastone sensor 16, which measures at least one of the room environmentalfactors of pressure, temperature, humidity, lighting, filtering, airquality, air composition and the like. The at least one output is usedto actuate at least one control devices 18 for changing at least one ofthe room environmental factors of pressure, temperature, humidity,lighting filtering, air quality, air composition and the like. Thecontroller 10 further includes a software program for entering limitsfor controlling pressure, temperature, humidity, lighting, filtering,air quality and air composition and the like. The software program readsvoltage from the at least one sensor 16 through the at least one inputport and sends out signals through the at least one output port toactuate the at least one control device 18, when a parameter exceeds apreset limit.

With reference to FIG. 2, the software program is preferably used toshow the mode 20, condition 22, pressure 24 and temperature 26 on thefirst display 12. The mode 20 could be positive isolation, negativeisolation or no-isolation, but could be any other appropriatedescription. The condition 22 is being displayed as normal, but could beany other appropriate description, such as “Emergency.” The pressure 24is displayed as a function of positive or negative water columns. Thetemperature 26 is displayed as current temperature in either Fahrenheitor Celsius.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, a plurality of interactive menus areaccessible by physically touching a first screen 28 of the first display12 with at least one finger. The plurality of interactive menus includea password menu 30, an engineering menu 32, a main menu 34 and anisolation mode change menu 36. Access to change settings through theinteractive menus is preferably protected through the password menu 30.To access the interactive menus, a user enters a password by touchingnumeric buttons 38. The numeric buttons 38 that are touched appear inthe password window 40. When all the numbers are entered, the enterbutton 42 is touched and the software program preferably displays theengineering menu 32.

The engineering menu 32 allows alarms to be set for filters,temperature, humidity and isolation for a particular room. Theengineering menu 32 also allows supply flow and exhaust flow rates to beset in the HVAC system. The main menu 34 allows isolation mode,temperature and humidity to be changed by touching a button. Contactingthe isolation mode button 44 provides the isolation mode change menu 36.Touching the change isolation mode button 46 changes the no isolationmode to positive isolation or negative isolation. The second display 14shows information provided by the controller 10 concerning the conditionof a critical environment room, such as a isolation room, surgicalsuite, neonatal suite, laboratory, clean room, vivarium room or thelike.

The second display 14 is preferably an LCD monitor, but other monitors,such as CRT monitors may also be used. There is at least one messagedisplayed on a second screen 48 of the second display 14. The at leastone message pertains to the condition of the critical environment room.For example, the at least one message could be, “DO NOT ENTER INFECTIOUSROOM.” In fact, there could be three messages for an isolation room, “DONOT ENTER, INFECTIOUS ROOM, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY,” “DO NOT ENTER,ROOM BEING CLEARED” and “ROOM CLEARED.”

The messages could be accompanied with any appropriate graphics, such asa canceled circle or a caution symbol. A background of the message couldbe colored to further reinforce the message or be associated therewith.The background of the “do not enter, infectious room, authorizedpersonnel only” message would be red. The background of the “do notenter, room being cleared” message would be yellow. The background ofthe “room cleared” message would be green. The time for displaying the“do not enter, room being cleared” message may be set through theengineering menu 32.

A second embodiment of the room monitor includes the controller 10 andthe first display 12. The first display 12 must be a touch screenmonitor. The second embodiment of the room monitor would not require thesecond display 14. The touch screen monitor is less obvious forunauthorized personnel to meddle with or sabotage the room monitor thana keyboard or keypad. Unauthorized personnel must know that the systemmay be modified through the touch screen. A keyboard or keypad is anopen invitation for someone to meddle with or sabotage the controller10.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A room monitor comprising: a controller having at least one of at least one input and at least one output, said controller having at least one of the functions of monitoring and controlling at least one room environmental factor; a first display being connected to said controller, said first display providing information for the at least one room environmental factor; and at least one second display being connected to said controller, said at least one second display providing at least one message concerning the condition of a room.
 2. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: said at least one input being connected to at least one sensor.
 3. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: said at least one output being connected to at least one control device for actuation thereof, said at least one control device changing the at least one room environmental factor.
 4. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: said first display providing status on a mode of isolation.
 5. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: said first display being a touch screen monitor, said first display providing access to said controller.
 6. The room monitor of claim 1, further comprising: one of a keyboard and a keypad, one of said keyboard and keypad providing access to said controller.
 7. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: at least one of said at least one message on said second display being active for a programmable period of time.
 8. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: said controller being accessed to set limits for the at least one room environmental factor, if one of the limits is exceeded, an alarm is activated.
 9. The room monitor of claim 1 wherein: at least one of said at least one message having an associated color.
 10. A room monitor comprising: a controller having at least one of at least one input and at least one output, said controller having at least one of the functions of monitoring and controlling at least one room environmental factor; and a first display being connected to said controller, said first display device being a touch screen monitor, said first display providing access to said controller.
 11. The room monitor of claim 10, further comprising: at least one second display being connected to said controller, said at least one second display providing at least one message concerning the condition of a room.
 12. The room monitor of claim 10 wherein: said at least one input being connected to at least one sensor.
 13. The room monitor of claim 10 wherein: said at least one output being connected to at least one control device for actuation thereof, said at least one control device changing the at least one room environmental factor.
 14. The room monitor of claim 10 wherein: said first display providing status on a mode of isolation.
 15. The room monitor of claim 11 wherein: at least one of said at least one message on said second display being active for a programmable period of time.
 16. The room monitor of claim 10 wherein: said controller being accessed to set limits for the at least one room environmental factor, if one of the limits is exceeded, an alarm is activated.
 17. The room monitor of claim 11 wherein: at least one of said at least one message having an associated color.
 18. A room monitor comprising: a controller having at least one of at least one input and at least one output, said controller having at least one of the functions of monitoring and controlling at least one room environmental factor; a first display being connected to said controller, said first display providing access to said controller; and at least one second display being connected to said controller, said second display providing at least one message concerning the condition of a room.
 19. The room monitor of claim 18 wherein: said at least one input being connected to at least one sensor.
 20. The room monitor of claim 18 wherein: said at least one output being connected to at least one control device for actuation thereof, said at least one control device changing the at least one room environmental factor.
 21. The room monitor of claim 18 wherein: at least one of said at least one message on said second display being active for a programmable period of time.
 22. The room monitor of claim 18 wherein: said controller being accessed to set limits for the at least one room environmental factor, if one of the limits is exceeded, an alarm is activated.
 23. The room monitor of claim 18 wherein: at least one of said at least one message having an associated color. 